'Love can't always be trusted. You fight against it, but its power to hold you is too strong to resist.'

from on-line trailer of El Sortilegio

ROMANCE AND ART CAST A SPELL

El Sortilegio is a soap opera with a bonus. The telenovela -- its English title is "Love Spell" -- uses Mexican art as a backdrop for each episode. That's because the show's producer, Carla Estrada, invited artists from across the country to send in samples of their work. From 900 submissions, well-known Mexican artist José Luis Cuevas helped choose 200 pieces. These have become part of the setting for this hot, new TV series, which began broadcast June 1.

If you have ever tuned in to a Latin American telenovela, you know that these soap operas offer a crash course in conversational Spanish. With Sortilegio, you also get the exposure to contemporary Mexican art, plus a plot thick with intrigue and romance.

Wikipedia describes the telenovela as a melodrama in miniseries format. These shows air in prime time -- five or six nights a week for about six months. They usually end with a bang. They are the most-watched genre of television program in the world, with at least two billion viewers worldwide.

The News, an excellent English-language newspaper in Mexico City, recently published an article on Sortilegio and the tie-in with Mexican art. Here's an excerpt from http://www.thenews.com.mx/

"Sortilegio treads some well-worn but entertaining soap-opera turf. Antonio Lombardo, a successful businessman, becomes alienated by his wife's inability to conceive and henceforth falls in love with and impregnates his best friend Samuel's wife Victoria, who gives birth to twins.

"Samuel goes on raising the children as if they were his own, while later, Antonio's wife dies during childbirth and gives birth to a baby boy. Later, Samuel dies and Antonio and Victoria are able to live life together, with three children completely in the dark as to the true nature of their relationship.”

The children grow to adulthood, and that's when the plot really thickens. A quote from Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott comes to mind: "Oh, what a tangled we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

For a five-minue introduction to Sortilegio, take a look at the English-language trailer on the Web. Go to http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/Jacqueline-Bracamontes/video/x99zsl_sortilegio-trailer-english_shortfilms

The one-hour episodes, created by Televisa, air Monday through Friday at 9 p.m. on "canal de las estrellas" (channel of the stars) in most parts of Mexico. Check local time and channel for La Paz. Sortilegio has been in progress for a month, but with 95 episodes scheduled, there's time to catch up before the story reaches its dramatic conclusion in mid-October.

DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This is a listing of arts and cultural events in La Paz, BCS, through July 31, 2009. Check back – I update listings throughout the month. Please note that schedules can change without notice: if your heart is set on a particular event, best to double-check date and time. In the left-hand column, you’ll find event highlights, locations for events and workshop listings. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a map and a link to earlier features (click on “Older posts”). Gracias to the Instituto Sudcaliforniano de Cultura, the Dirección de Cultura, Acción Cívica y Festivales of the city of La Paz, Alianza Francesa de La Paz and other cultural organizations for their contributions. To make additions and corrections to this page, please e-mail me at rozinlapaz@yahoo.com

JUNE 30

Concert: Soprano Loyda Vázquez and tenor Oscar Aguilar perform in concert at Teatro de la Ciudad, 8 p.m.. Canto de la Tierra (song of the earth) is a concert for two voices, featuring a fusion of different elements, such as classical and pop music. An example from their performance is "The Prayer" in English and Italian. General admission is 100 pesos.

Movie: Alianza Francesa's Tuesday film series June features short films. Tonight's movie is Falsas y Otras Historias (untrue stories). Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

Movie: RocknRolla is a British 2008 film directed and written by Guy Ritchie. It's billed as "a story of sex, thugs and rock 'n roll." The show is at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at SalsiPuedes bar and restaurant at Alvaro Obregón 2130 (on the Malecón between Allende and Juárez), (612)12 8 55 94.

CONTINUING FROM JUNE 2009

Until July 5, sculpture show: The exhibit Amor y Erostismo by Efrén Olalde is at Galería de Arte Carlos Olachea, next to Teatro de la Ciudad at Unidad Cultural, Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Admission is free

Until July 27, art show: An exhibit of paintings by Anja Neil and her late husband, Alex Neil, is at Centro Cultural Esperanza Rodriguez Gallery on Independencia #107 (between Belisario Dominguez and Obregón on the same block as the nightclub Las Varitas).

Until July 27, photography show: Raíces is the title of this photography exhibit by Lizardo Nava, whose theme is Mexican identity. It's at the gallery of Teatro Juárez, on Belisario Dominguez between 16 de Septiembre and Independencia.

Until mid-July, art exhibit: Paintings by artist Ulla Behn are on show at Galerías Pax, Guillermo Prieto #1250, between Constitución and 5 de Mayo. The show features work in acrylic on canvas, and watercolor-crayon on rag paper.

Until mid-July, art exhibit: The show New Works by Eight Artists continues until mid-July at Galería La Paz at Álvaro Obregón #299 (on the corner of the Malecón and Callejón Constitución). The show includes works by Sharina Fong, Gabo, Sidne Byars, Rojas, Nora White, Lizardo, Socorro Garcia and Ken Bonner. For more information, call 612-125-9550.

Until mid-July, art exhibit: Galería Gato Negro presents an exhibition of work in large-format -- nine pieces by nine artists. The show opened May 9. The gallery is next to Teatro Juárez on Belisario Domingez 1435, between 16 de Septiembre and Independencia. An artist is on hand 10 am to 2 pm Mondays through Saturdays. For more information, e-mail galeriagatonegro@gmail.com

Until July 30, anthropology museum exhibits: July's featured exhibit is a punzón (awl or hole punch), a tool used by desert inhabitants found in la Sierra de San Pedro. It's on display July 1 until July 30 in the vestibule of the natural history museum. This month's recommended permanent exhibit is the display Miguel Covarrubias en México y San Francisco, a collection of maps that the artist created for an international exhibition in San Francisco in 1939. Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia is at I. M. Altamirano and 5 de Mayo. It's open Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Telephone: 122 01 62 and 125 64 24

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1

Movie: Galerias Pax shows classical and art films Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Admission fee of 20 pesos includes a light snack. Tonight's movie is Home. For more information, visit the gallery at Guillermo Prieto 1250, call 612-141-1004 or contact Naschtinka Diaz: naschtinka@hotmail.com, 612 121512

Dance performance: Oldies Jazz 'n Dance is a performance by Academia Jazz Club, directed by Maribel Denogean at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 50 pesos.

THURSDAY, JULY 2

Book presentation: La máquina de los sueños (dream machine) is a prize winner in the La Paz 2007 literary competition. The author is Claudia Gámez. The event is at 7 p.m. at Patio de los Almendros, Unidad Cultural, which is the site adjoining Teatro de la Ciudad, Navarro and Héroes de Independencia.

FRIDAY, JULY 3

Movie: Films about Rome are featured this month in Alianza Francesa's Friday film series. Tonight, the movie is Roma, Ciudad Abierta by Roberto Rossellini. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

Dance performance: La bella de durmiente (sleeping beauty) will be performed by Academia Mejibó under the direction of Eva Uribe at 7:30 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 80 pesos.

SATURDAY, JULY 4

Dance performance: Academia Danzzá, under the direction of Mary Landa, performs Peace and Love at 7 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 60 pesos.

SUNDAY, JULY 5

Political election: Because of political elections July 5, the sale of alcoholic beverages will be restricted. La Paz will be "dry" from 10 p.m. July 4 until 9 a.m. July 6. Restaurants, bars and the like will not be allowed to sell booze from midnight Saturday, July 4, until Monday morning, July 6. (information thanks to Les the Bread Guy, from a report in Sudcaliforniano)

Dance performance: Academia Class Jazz, under the direction of Kenya Castro, performs The Class Jazz Movie Awards at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 70 pesos.

MONDAY, JULY 6

Dance performance: Taller de Baile Carmen, under the direction of Carmen Valero, performs Unidos at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 70 pesos.

TUESDAY, JULY 7

Book club: The La Paz Book club meets at 2 p.m. to discuss Dark Lady, by Michael Baldwin. New members are welcome. For information, contact Allende Books of La Paz at Independencia #518, between Serdan and G. Prieto, (612)125 9114

Dance performance: Academia de danza Mejibó, under the direction of Marco Antonio Ojeda García, performs Gala de Tchaikovsky at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 80 pesos.

Movie: SalsiPuedes bar and restaurant shows a film Tuesday, 8 p.m. at Alvaro Obregón 2130 (on the Malecón between Allende and Juárez). For information, drop by SalsiPuedes or phone (612)12 8 55 94).

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

Movie: Galerias Pax shows classical and art films Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Admission fee of 20 pesos includes a light snack. For more information, visit the gallery at Guillermo Prieto 1250, call 612-141-1004 or contact Naschtinka Diaz: naschtinka@hotmail.com, 612 121512

THURSDAY, JULY 9

Women's luncheon: The monthly La Paz Ladies' Luncheon invites all women in La Paz --boaters, land residents, English and Spanish speakers -- to get together to see old friends, meet new ones and share information about the area. This month, lunch is at 1 p.m. at El Dorado "de Los Laureles" on the Malecón between Republica and V. Guerrero. The restaurant has an open-air patio, which gets a breeze from the bay. A bonus: there will be a draw for two massages. For more information, call 122-8512.

Dance performance: Academia Gran Allegro, under the direction of Socorro García, performs La feria de la alegría (the happiness fair) at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 80 pesos.

FRIDAY, JULY 10

Movie: Films about Rome are featured this month in Alianza Francesa's Friday film series. Tonight, the movie is Mamá Roma, by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

Art show opening: The exhibit Paraíso Contradictorio (contradictory paradise), paintings and installation by artist Fabián Muhlia, opens at 8 p.m. at Galería de Arte Carlos Olachea, which is next door to Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Admission is free. The show continues until July 31.

Dance performance: Academia Majestic Dance, under the direction of Devlyn Huerta, performs Rain at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 60 pesos.


SATURDAY, JULY 11

SUNDAY, JULY 12

Dance performance: Academia Ballane, under the direction of Edith Meza, performs El principito (the prince) at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 50 pesos.

MONDAY, JULY 13

TUESDAY, JULY 14

Movie: SalsiPuedes bar and restaurant shows a film Tuesday, 8 p.m. at Alvaro Obregón 2130 (on the Malecón between Allende and Juárez). For information, drop by SalsiPuedes or phone (612)12 8 55 94).

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

Movie: Galerias Pax shows classical and art films Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Admission fee of 20 pesos includes a light snack. For more information, visit the gallery at Guillermo Prieto 1250, call 612-141-1004 or contact Naschtinka Diaz: naschtinka@hotmail.com, 612 121512

THURSDAY, JULY 16

FRIDAY, JULY 17

Movie: Films about Rome are featured this month in Alianza Francesa's Friday film series. Tonight, the movie is Gente de Roma, by Ettore Scola. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

Dance performance: Academia Lokahi, under the direction of Laynett López, performs Tahití Bamboo at 8 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Telephone: 125 04 86 y 125 02 07 Admission is 60 pesos.


SATURDAY, JULY 18

SUNDAY, JULY 19

MONDAY, JULY 20

TUESDAY, JULY 21

Movie: SalsiPuedes bar and restaurant shows a film Tuesday, 8 p.m. at Alvaro Obregón 2130 (on the Malecón between Allende and Juárez). For information, drop by SalsiPuedes or phone (612)12 8 55 94).

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

Movie: Galerias Pax shows classical and art films Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Admission fee of 20 pesos includes a light snack. For more information, visit the gallery at Guillermo Prieto 1250, call 612-141-1004 or contact Naschtinka Diaz: naschtinka@hotmail.com, 612 121512

THURSDAY, JULY 23

FRIDAY, JULY 24

Movie: Films about Rome are featured this month in Alianza Francesa's Friday film series. Tonight, the movie is Milagro en Roma, by Lisandro Duque. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

SATURDAY, JULY 25

SUNDAY, JULY 26

MONDAY, JULY 27

TUESDAY, JULY 28

Movie: SalsiPuedes bar and restaurant shows a film every Tuesday, 8 p.m. at Alvaro Obregón 2130 (on the Malecón between Allende and Juárez). For information, drop by SalsiPuedes or phone (612)12 8 55 94).

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29

Movie: Galerias Pax shows classical and art films Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Admission fee of 20 pesos includes a light snack. For more information, visit the gallery at Guillermo Prieto 1250, call 612-141-1004 or contact Naschtinka Diaz: naschtinka@hotmail.com, 612 121512

THURSDAY, JULY 30

Diabetes conference: Mitos,Realidades y Esperanzas (myths, realities and hopes) is the title of this conference with speaker Federico Estrella Pizarro at 7 p.m. at Teatro de la Ciudad, at Navarro and Héroes de Independencia. Admission is free.


FRIDAY, JULY 31

Movie: Films about Rome are featured this month in Alianza Francesa's Friday film series. Tonight, the movie is Fellini Roma, de Federico Fellini. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free. The French cultural centre is on Revolución 635 between Moreles and Guadalupe Victoria.

LOOKING AHEAD

August 21: Contest deadline for Concurso de fotografía Naturaleza Peninsular, a photography contest featuring nature. It's open to photographers who have lived in BCS for at least three years or who were born in the state. For more information, pick up a copy of the Agenda Cultural at the tourism office or go to the website www.fs.lapazbcs.com.mx or www.bcs.gob.mx

October 25: In El Rosario, Festival de las Minas, sponsored by the East Cape arts association

December 6: In San Antoion, 2nd annual art festival, sponsored by the East Cape arts association.

December 20: In Colina del Sol, local artists show, sponsored by the East Cape arts association.

January 17, 2010: In San Antonio, historic building tour, sponsored by the East Cape arts association.

EARLIER FEATURE STORIES
Scroll down to read these earlier features. If you can't see the feature, click on "older posts" at bottom-right of page.
June, 2009: Puppet theatre tells story of Pillo the moth
May, 2009: Arena de Río makes history sing
Also May, 2009: 474th annivesary of city's founding
April, 2009: Soprano sings from the heart
March, 2009: Makers of the storm dolls
January, 2009: Browsing art galleries in La Paz
December 2008: Artist La Reyna Sofia and all her women
November 2008: Encounter with a witch: “La Bruja"
October 2008: Finding your next good book
September 2008: Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
August 2008: One-eyed horse and defiant colonel win Olympic gold
July 2008: Las Mañanitas, Mexico’s “Happy Birthday” song
June 2008: Man behind the counter of the Escritorio Público
May 2008: The story behind the seashell musicians
April 2008: singer-songwriter Paulo Piña
March 2008: Sand sculptor of La Paz
February 2008: the artist GABO
Also February 2008: Carnaval queen
January 2008: Old man in the paper boat

“La Vida Útil de Pillo Polilla” (the useful life of Pillo the moth) took to the stage at Teatro de La Ciudad June 19.

FROM PAPER MOTH TO BOOKWORM

Pillo Polilla is a paper-devouring moth who lives in a library, where he spends his days happily chewing through the bountiful collection of books. But then Pillo learns to read. And life for the moth turns upside-down.

Pillo finds magic in the world of literature -- everything from Twenty Million Leagues under the Sea to the poetry of Pablo Neruda. But his discovery causes him angst. What does a paper moth eat, if not books? He ventures out of the library on a quest to discover the meaning of his own existence.

The result is a prize-winning theatrical production, told through puppets and actors. La Vida Útil de Pillo Polilla (the useful life of Pillo the Moth) is an adaptation of the novel by Vivian Mansour Manzur, a writer whose witty plots and sense of humor have earned her two prestigious literary awards in Mexico. Lourdes Aguilera (pictured at right) adapted, produced and directed the stage production. The Association of Mexican theatre Critics judged the show to be “Best Children’s Work” in 2006.

MUSICAL COUPLE MAKE HISTORY SING

Yo soy libre como el viento/ I am as free as the wind
Pero tengo dignidad/ but I have dignity
Adoro la libertad/ I adore freedom
Con todo mi corazón/ with all my heart
- from the 19th century song, La China Mexicana

In songs about patriotic señoritas and murdered revolutionary heroes, Consuelo Martinez and Lorenzo López make Mexico's history come alive. For many years the duo called Arena de Río has researched and performed traditional songs from Mexico's early 19th-century struggle for independence through the Revolution a hundred years later. What started as a passion for Mexico's old music has become a mission to help listeners restore their eroded links to the past.

Consuelo: "It's sad." Lorenzo: "We've forgotten our roots." The two are more than a musical duo; they're husband and wife. In conversation, one often completes the other's thoughts.

"With all the telenovelas, pop stars and soccer," Lorenzo continues, "sadly, people don't know their history, they don't know their music, don't know the old customs."

The duo's name, arena de río, means "river sand." They say there is pride in seeing themselves as "a grain of sand" in efforts to enrich Mexican culture.

Ironically, the search to recover Mexico's past was reinforced in Berkeley, California. While spending time at the university, Lorenzo and Consuelo discovered a gold mine of Mexican history and music. That started them on an exhaustive research project. They have sifted through documents and sheet music in Mexican universities, libraries and archives. And they've sought out songs passed down from one generation to the next.

"We listened to the music of old people," Lorenzo says.

"For example," says Consuelo, "a woman in her 80s, who learned the songs of her grandmother" -- songs going back to before the 1910 revolution.

You can learn about Mexico from Arena de Río's music. Or, you can just sit back and let the music flow over you -- Consuelo's beautiful, deep voice, Lorenzo's lilting guitar, their sweet harmonies. There are many love longs among their CDs.

¿Que haré lejos de tí, prenda del alma?/ What will I do far from you, part of my soul?
¿Sin verte, sin oirte y sin hablarte?/ Without seeing you, without
hearing you and without talking to you?
¿Como quitar la esencia de las flores?/ How to give up the essence of flowers?
¿Como quitarle al viento la armonia?/ How to give up the wind's harmony?
¿Como negar que te amo, vida mia?/ How to deny that I love you, my life?
¿Como borrar de mi alma esta pasion?/ How to erase this passion from my soul?
- from the romantic song, Prenda del Alma

"Which came first, music or love?" I ask. They laugh. Music and love are intertwined, they say. Consuelo: "Gracias a la música (thanks to the music), we got to know each other."

Together, they have performed and searched out traditional music for 25 years, living most of that time in La Paz. Lorenzo, 50, was born in Mexico City; Consuelo, four years younger, came from Guadalajara. They have two daughters, ages 18 and 10.

Their latest project combines music and theatre. Vamos a Cantar la Historia (let's sing the history) is a stage production that involves school children in a reenactment of events from the struggle for independence through the French intervention and the Mexican Revolution. Vamos a Cantar la Historia is also the title of a CD of spoken word and songs, a studio recording of their project.

This coming year will be busy for Lorenzo and Consuelo with the approach of the 2010 celebrations of both the 200th anniversary of Mexico's Independence and the 100th anniversary of the Revolution.

As they talk about the project and the history behind it, their faces light up. They explain that this latest CD is a distillation of so much research. The details, too many to include, have caused the historic personalities to come alive for them. "These heroes were people," Consuelo says. "They made mistakes, but they had convictions to improve life."

Y de orgullo el alma llena/ And with my soul filled with pride
Declaro de buena gana/ I gladly declare
Que soy pura mexicana/ That I am all Mexican
Nada tengo de español/ I have nothing of the Spanish in me
- La China Mexicana

You can hear samples of Arena de Río's music and learn more about the duo at their website at http://www.arenaderio.com/ and a second website at www.myspace.com/arenaderio. They have four CDs: Vamos a Cantar la Historia, Reflejos de Ayer (reflections of yesterday), Una Mañanita Azul (a blue morning) and Voy Llegando a mi Pueblito (I'm on my way to my village). You can purchase CDs directly from the artists. E-mail arenaderio@yahoo.com

LA PAZ: LOOKIN' GOOD AT AGE 474

The City of La Paz marks the 474th anniversary of its founding in May. This historic event was a long time coming. It actually took the Europeans five tries to found the settlement that became La Paz. Here's how it happened, as recounted in the city's celebration brochure.

The first Spaniard to arrive was Fortún Jiménez de Bertandoña, mutineer pilot of "La Concepción." He came in 1533, but he and his 22 sailors were killed by the native Guaycuras.

Two years later, on May 3, 1535, Hernán Cortés arrived and named the bay and harbor Santa Cruz. That day has become the official date of the founding anniversary. However, Cortés failed to establish a permanent colony. Sixty-one years later (in 1596), Sebastián Vizcaíno disembarked and named the port La Paz. But he didn't create a settlement, either.

There were two more attempts: one in 1683 by the admiral Isidro de Atondo y Antillón; another in 1720 by Jesuits Juan de Ugarte and Jaime Bravo, who established the mission of "Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz." They abandoned the mission 15 years later.

It wasn't until 1811 that Governor Felipe de Goicoechea gave the area to Juan José Espinoza to start a settlement. That was the beginning of the permanent colony of La Paz.

SONG FROM HER HEART

My heart opens itself to your voice
Like the flowers open to the kisses of the dawn!

When soprano Loyda Vázquez sang these words from the French opera Samson et Dalila on stage in La Paz earlier this month, she was singing from her heart.

That's partly because she had been preparing for the concert for a year. And because she is passionate about bringing opera to life through voice and theatre. But what made the event especially heartfelt was that the pianist was her father, David Vázquez Cosío. He now lives in Mexico City. Because of this, father and daughter perform concerts together only once or twice a year.

"I don't even have to look at him for us to understand one another," Loyda tells me. She pauses to reflect for a moment, placing her hand on her heart. "He says, 'Your heart and mine are the same.' And so, it is a very special experience."

Loyda Vázquez Lizárraga has been playing music with her father since she was six years old. Now she's 38. Her dad is 73.

In Guadalajara, where Loyda grew up, there were always musicians in the family home. Singers, violinists, cellists and others came to play with her father. A concert pianist and professor of music at the University of Guadalajara, David Vázquez started by teaching his young daughter piano. But Loyda had other plans. "Being a pianist was not for me." Asked why, Loyda is emphatic: "¡No soy yo, No soy yo! " — she does not feel truly herself at the keyboard.

Even at the age of six, Loyda knew she wanted to be a singer. "When I sing, I feel as if I am flying." She stretches out her arms like a paloma and laughs. The laughter is musical. Her sentences have the cadence of a song. But the effect is not theatrical. Loyda's manner is natural. She simmers with warmth.

Loyda was 10 when she began voice lessons with her father. Singing is her passion: "I believe that when you sing, your soul is exposed." Perhaps that is why, for her, performances are not without angst.

"Always, I'm nervous before going on stage," she says. "But then, once I am on stage, I feel fine. For me, it's a privilege to sing. My voice is a gift, something to share."

Loyda came to La Paz on a family holiday and fell in love with the city — the Malecón, the beach, the tranquility. She moved here almost five years ago with her husband Gustavo and their son, who is now 11. In addition to performing, she teaches voice and choral work at the state music school.

Loyda's favourite language for singing is Italian, followed by German — she says that's because the words flow so freely. She enjoys singing in French, too: "It's very delicate." But what about her native language? "I don't like to sing in Spanish," she says, because some consonants are hard to sing in a way that's easily understood. "The diction is very difficult."

She is a performer who feels passionately that the voice reveals the person within. "I believe that when you sing, your soul is exposed," she says. "When I sing, I say, 'This is who I am. Listen to me. This is who I am.' "

On May 30 in La Paz, Loyda Vázquez and a second soprano will perform a series of duets and solos from Stabat Mater Dolorosa ("The sorrowful mother stood").